Verdict: Benfica win
Best Odds: 2/3
Bookmaker: Dachbet
With a Champions League group stage ticket hanging in the balance on Wednesday night, Benfica will welcome Fenerbahce to Lisbon for a blockbuster second-leg showdown.
Benfica
Starting with the hosts, putting in a gritty performance on foreign soil last week as they eventually left Istanbul with a 0-0 stalemate, Benfica should be relishing a return to the Estadio da Luz on Wednesday night. Pencilled in as a standout contender in midweek, the Eagles have come flying out of the traps since opening up the 2025/26 campaign. Crowned Super Cup champions on July 31st as they clinched a 1-0 victory against arch-rivals Sporting Lisbon, Bruno Lage’s men find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend as they clinched a routine 3-0 victory against Tondela, Benfica have also gained a reputation for their defensive steel. Extending on their Champions League qualifying adventure earlier in the month as they claimed a 4-0 aggregate win against French outfit Nice, Lage’s side have recorded a clean sheet in all of their first six appearances across all competitions so far this season.
Benfica Team News
Shown a first-leg red card away at Fenerbahce in the first-leg last week, former Portugal U21 international Fiorentino will serve a one-match suspension here. Not featuring so far this calendar year, Danish defender Alexander Bah remains on the sidelines with a long-term knee issue.
Handed a full rest over the weekend, Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Turbin will return between the sticks. Claiming Benfica’s Golden Boot last season after notching 19 domestic strikes, former AZ Alkmaar striker Vangelis Pavlidis will play a leading role in the final third.
Fenerbahce
As for the visitors, missing out on the chance to claim what would have been a crucial first-leg advantage on home soil last week, Fenerbahce have a real challenge on their hands when they travel to Lisbon on Wednesday night. Once again forced to settle for another silver medal finish among Turkey’s elite last season, Jose Mourinho’s men have plenty of pressure on their shoulders this time around. Despite landing what was a routine 3-1 win at home against Kocaelispor over the weekend, the former Manchester United boss is desperately searching for some kind of stability. Yet to record consecutive wins across any competition since opening up the 2025/26 campaign, the Yellow Canaries should also be concerned by their most recent competitive trip to Istanbul. Falling to a 1-0 defeat when they last travelled to the Estadio da Luz back in August 2018, the Turkish heavyweights are pencilled in as a real underdog in midweek.
Fenerbahce Team News
Still sidelined with a long-term knee injury, Brazilian defender Rodrigo Becao won’t make the trip over to Lisbon on Wednesday night. Likewise, suffering yet another injury setback, former Everton striker Cenk Tosun remains a major doubt in midweek.
While Columbian international John Duran might have only notched a single strike across any competition since completing a summer switch from Al-Nassr, the ex-Aston Villa striker should lead the line here. Completing a loan move from West Ham last week, Edson Alvarez could make his Fenerbahce debut in Lisbon.
Benfica vs Fenerbahce Key Factors to Consider
- When Benfica last welcomed Fenerbahce to the Estadio da Luz for a competitive showdown back in August 2018, the Eagles collected a 1-0 victory.
- Benfica have not conceded a single goal in any of their first six appearances across all competitions so far this season.
- Fenerbahce have failed to register back-to-back wins across any format since opening up the 2025/26 campaign.
- Benfica have suffered just a single defeat at the Estadio da Luz across any competition since the end of January.
- Fenerbahce have registered just a single competitive clean sheet on their travels since the end of February.
Conclusion
Putting in a gritty first-leg performance on foreign soil last week, Benfica should be excited to make a return to the Estadio da Luz on Wednesday night. Continuing to shine since opening up the new campaign, the Eagles have also gained a real reputation for their defensive steel. Yet to concede a single strike across any competition so far this season, Lage’s side will be confident of officially booking their Champions League group stage ticket here.
Verdict: Benfica win
Best Odds: 2/3
Bookmaker: Dachbet
